Woman of the year juggles life's challenges

Dull confers with co-worker Jim Niel who is a distribution and transmission specialist for Rocky Mountain Power.

If there is anything to be said about Debra Svetich Dull it is that she is dedicated to the Castle Valley. Aside from the short amount of time she spent attending the University of Utah, Dull has spent her whole life in the Carbon/Emery area.

Dull was chosen overwhelmingly, via reader voting as this year's Sun Advocate Business Woman of the Year for her tireless work in the community she has always called home.

Deb has been employed by Rocky Mountain Power (formerly Utah Power) for 31 years and worked her way steadily into a major management position within the company. She began her career in the Castle Dale customer service office and held positions as a cashier, meter reader, collector and accounting clerk.

From such humble beginnings a true leader for Castle Valley business women was born.

Last year's winner Dorothy Carter had nothing but good to say about this year's woman of the year.

"I have known Deb Dull for six years and during those years I have witnessed the hard work and dedication she has for improving our communities," stated Carter.

In 1995 she became a member of the management team at the power company. Dull's first position managing was as a manager over the customer service offices and meter readers across eastern Utah. Later she managed the meter readers and collectors across southern Utah.

In 2000 Deb was chosen for a position that brought her into contact with various community, business and polictical entities in Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan counties.

In 2006 she became a Customer and Community Manager (CCM) and her responsibilities were increased to include serving as the primary point of contact and managing customer accounts and community issues for Rocky Mountain Power's southern Utah communities. Dull also is responsible for community issues and industrial accounts in the Navajo Nation.

"I can't say enough about how great my husband was throughout my career," said Dull during a morning interview at a restaurant on Main Street in Price. "He did a lot of playing the role of Mr. Mom while I traveled with the job and he always supported me."

Dull detailed the changes she has witnessed at Rocky Mountain Power during her long career there.

"When I started with the company there was no CCM job, but there were jobs that were similar. In the late 1970s and early 80's the company was building the Huntington and Hunter Power Plants and there were opportunities to work at these facilities but I knew I would rather work the customer service side of the business," said Dull.

Dull was voted by an overwhelming margin as this years Sun Advocate Business Woman of the Year.

According to Dull, the most interesting part of her current position is the diversity of issues. The majority of the company employees in the Carbon County area work at the Carbon, Hunter and Huntington Power Plants or at Energy West's Deer Creek mine. Dull says just the geography and closeness of our area make her job very different from her counterparts up state.

"Some of the issues I deal with are very different than my fellow CCMs on the Wasatch front. I couldn't imagine working with a community that is adding 5,000 new homes in the next couple of years, but I don't think my fellow CCMs would full understand the impact that an industry such as coal mining has on this community either," said Dull.

Dull's reaction to her nomination for this award was one of surprise and amazement.

"I guess a lot of people that know me would say I am a workaholic," quipped Dull. "But I was astonished that people would nominate me for this award. I am very fortunate that my work brings me into contact with so many people in this community."

Dull has currently or previously served her community in many ways aside from her work at Rocky Mountain Power. These positions include work with the United Way, Economic Development Boards all over southeastern Utah, the Division of Workforce Services, the College of Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum, the Southeastern Utah Small Business Investment Fund, the Southeastern Utah Energy Producers Association and the Western Energy Training Center.

"I have always been able to rely on an unbelievable support group that has greatly contributed to the success I have had, both in work and in my personal life," said Dull. "My parents Mike and Louise Svetich, encouraged me to set goals and follow my dreams. My husband Russ could write a book on being a Mr. Mom and both of my children, Jennifer and Kevin, have supported me especially when other children had mothers who were home every night. Instead, at times, their mom was gone on company business and only came home on weekends."

Dull has made sacrifices for her career but is proud of the way she has been able to make Castle Valley a better place for her customers and hopefully for all woman with aspirations for a management position.

"Would I change anything? Sure I would, I don't know anyone who doesn't learn lessons as they go through life. I can say that I have been lucky to be a part of this community my entire life and to have a job that encourages me to be involved in the community. I have had incredible opportunities," concluded Dull.